Chapter 13: Thunderous Roar, Deathmatch! Sacrifice!
Boom!
A massive foot, like a building, slammed into the ground, shaking the earth!
Uchiha Takanotsume snapped his eyes open, instantly greeted by the colossal form of the Two-Tails, Matatabi, rampaging through an unfamiliar camp.
Cries, roars, the swish of kunai zipping past his ears, the deafening boom of explosive tags—
And then—
The terrifying beast reared back, bellowing to the sky!
A dense, blue-black chakra orb began forming at its maw.
Then—
Boom!
A Tailed Beast Ball rocketed forth!
Its target: Uchiha Takanotsume!
Facing such an extreme, horrifying ninjutsu, Takanotsume's heart pounded wildly, his mind a chaotic blur. His pupils dilated, primal human fear of untamed giants clawing at his chest!
But in the next moment—
[Talent: Combat Instinct (S) activated.]
His vision went black, and his body moved on its own.
"Kumo's attacking! Wake up, you fools!"
Uchiha Setsuna's roar exploded in his ears, followed by a shower of debris blasted by an explosion.
Accompanied by the jingle of bells.
Takanotsume shook his head, dust spilling from his hair.
He opened his eyes, waking from the dream!
His body was wedged in an awkward position between a flying half-wall and a broken beam.
Ahead—
Setsuna faced off against three panting Kumo ninja, all in their village's gear.
Nearby—
Uchiha Seiichiro clutched a kunai, trembling from head to toe—hands, feet, teeth, even his glowing Sharingan quivering.
"Why, why, why does a chūnin like me have to face enemies like this?!"
His shaky roar carried a sob, nearly cracking.
"Finally caught you, Uchiha rats!"
The eldest of the Kumo trio, Ramii, sneered, forming hand seals.
Tiger - Snake - Tiger - Snake - Tiger!
A crackling orb of lightning formed in his hand, poised to strike.
This was Lightning Release: Thunderous Barrage.
Similar to Chidori, it gathered lightning chakra in the hand. Unlike Chidori, it didn't boost cell metabolism—it radiated electricity outward, a small-scale destructive jutsu.
The blue glow of lightning illuminated Setsuna's grim face.
These three were clearly formidable foes.
Especially the one-eyed ninja in the center, Dodai, wearing a black cap.
One of the Third Raikage's right-hand men, wielding the terrifying Lava Release kekkei genkai, his strength neared Kage-level.
He wasn't far below Setsuna himself.
With Ramii, a jōnin, pinning him down and Moroi, a special jōnin, blocking escape routes, this lineup was designed to kill him here!
Realizing this, Setsuna's eyes narrowed, his decision made.
He turned to his two subordinates, ordering coldly: "Takanotsume, Seiichiro!"
"Go!"
"You complete the mission. I'll create an opening!"
Hearing this, Ramii's face darkened.
He squinted at Moroi beside him. "Go slaughter those two nobodies. Setsuna likely got critical intel—they can't be allowed to escape and warn the Uchiha."
Moroi frowned. "Ramii-senpai, if I leave, I can't guarantee we'll block Setsuna's retreat."
"Then make it quick. Kill them and return to set up the barrier," Ramii said, his eyes brimming with killing intent. "Today, we must kill Uchiha Setsuna!"
"Otherwise, with his dojutsu, he could stall the Two-Tails at Hell Valley, ruining our entire plan."
Moroi took a deep breath, nodded, and charged past Setsuna toward Takanotsume and Seiichiro.
Setsuna moved to intercept, but two figures blocked his path.
Dodai smirked coldly. "Old man, in a deathmatch, I might not beat you. But with both of us here, we can counter your genjutsu and keep you tied up easily."
Setsuna gritted his teeth, his face still icy. "Is that so?"
"Kids these days sure talk big."
Crack, crack, crack!
Takanotsume drew a kunai from his pouch, smashing through the wooden beam and crawling out from under the half-ruined wall.
Hearing Setsuna's orders, he pieced together the intel he'd gathered.
A quick analysis of the situation:
First, Kumo's move was premeditated.
Their plan was to unleash the Two-Tails jinchūriki on Hell Valley to crush the Uchiha garrison, freeing the Blood Pond Clan.
To that end—
Setsuna, with his powerful dojutsu that could hinder the Two-Tails, was their top target for elimination.
Second, the current predicament.
Kumo had sent three jōnin-level ninja to ensure Setsuna's death.
Judging by the scene, it'd take all three to pull it off.
Now, one had broken off to kill him and Seiichiro, preventing the mission intel from reaching the Uchiha.
This was danger—and opportunity!
Takanotsume grinned, brushing off dust and stepping forward boldly.
In the original timeline, Shisui, with his Phantom Body Flicker, would've escaped. Seiichiro, the dove, likely became the trigger for his Sharingan awakening.
If Takanotsume was going to die here, he couldn't do worse than the original history.
At minimum, he had to get the intel back.
After all, the Heavenly Dao Company had standards. As a Heaven-Sent Tough Guy, he couldn't underperform compared to the original plot.
Facing the charging Moroi, Takanotsume stepped up, his gaze sharp.
He turned to Seiichiro and said firmly: "Seiichiro-senpai, you retreat. I'll cover."
"What?!" Seiichiro jolted, stunned by Takanotsume's words.
"Are you insane? That guy—I've seen him in the files. He's a special jōnin, skilled in kenjutsu and sealing!"
"You don't stand a chance!"
Takanotsume shook his head, glancing at him calmly. "Seiichiro-senpai, if no one covers, we'll both die here, and the intel won't reach the clan."
"Plus, if you die, someone might steal your Sharingan, risking the clan's kekkei genkai leaking."
"So, it makes more sense for me to stay."
"You… you…" Seiichiro's face wavered, staring at Takanotsume in shock.
He couldn't fathom how someone could treat life and death so lightly.
And be willing to sacrifice their life to save him!
The enemy was a jōnin!
His words nearly brought Seiichiro to tears.
He nodded fiercely.
But the next moment, his face went ghostly pale. He turned back to Takanotsume. "But Takanotsume, I don't know how to contact the Ninja Cat Clan!"
Takanotsume nearly spat blood in frustration.
"That… is a problem."
He hesitated, then pulled a parchment from his scroll pouch and shoved it into Seiichiro's hands.
"Here, take this. It's a one-time Ninja Cat Clan contract. Use it and ask the Ninja Cat envoy."
Staring at the scroll, Seiichiro was utterly moved.
The Ninja Cat Clan's summoning contract was a treasure countless ninja coveted.
On the battlefield, it could save lives!
Yet Takanotsume handed it over without a second thought. Seiichiro had never met someone so strange yet generous.
It was like he was settling his final affairs!
Before Seiichiro could shed tears or say thanks—
Takanotsume's face shifted, and he shoved Seiichiro away!
A barrier wall surged up between them!
Kumo's Moroi slapped the ground, erecting a deathmatch barrier that trapped him and Takanotsume.
Only the survivor would walk out!
If Takanotsume hadn't pushed Seiichiro, both would've been locked inside!
Seiichiro stood dazed, the world mute around him.
Through the transparent barrier, he saw Takanotsume's silent shout: "Go!"
Seiichiro's pupils shrank, a tear rolling down.
In that moment, all their grudges dissolved.
In his heart, only one image remained: Takanotsume, towering and radiant like a Buddha!
He wholeheartedly acknowledged him!
Wiping tears, he scrambled away, clutching the contract, crawling and sprinting with all he had.
"Takanotsume, wait for me!"
"I'll find someone to save you!"